Hibiscus laevis (Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow)
| Also known as: | Smooth Rose Mallow |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Hibiscus |
| Family: | Malvaceae (Mallow) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; marshes, shallow water |
| Bloom season: | July - September |
| Plant height: | 3 to 6 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/hibiscus-laevis-784.jpg)
Flowers are about 4 inches across with 5 round pinkish white overlapping petals, deep rose pink at the base and a column covered with creamy white stamens in the throat. At the end of the column is a stigma with 5 creamy, fuzzy round branches at the tip. 5 fused green sepals with sharp pointed tips enclose buds and flower base; up to 12 narrow, curving bracklets are below. Profuse flowering from the upper leaf axils
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/hibiscus-laevis_42978-4.jpg)
Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide, hairless with finely toothed edges, triangular in outline with usually 2 triangular (more or less) lobes at the base, on a long leaf stalk. Stems are erect, hairless, sometimes branching.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/hibiscus-laevis-halberd-leaved-rose-mallow_0110_105748.jpg)
The sepals persist and enclose a 5-sectioned capsule containing fuzzy brown seeds. When ripe, a capsule section splits down the midrib.
Notes:
This native Hibiscus makes a great garden plant, but needs sufficient moisture to really thrive. It has persisted in my own garden for some years even through our seemingly endless droughts. There are several reports in iNaturalist of Hibiscus laevis around the Twin Cities area and southeast Minnesota, but at least some of those are more likely planted than naturally occurring populations.
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More photos
Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow, garden grown
Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow, in the wild
fighting a losing battle against purple loosestrife and reed canary grass
Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow, garden grown
Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow, in the wild
fighting a losing battle against purple loosestrife and reed canary grassPhotos by K. Chayka taken in her garden. Photos by Peter M. Dziuk taken at Lilydale Park in St. Paul and in his garden in Lino Lakes.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2011-08-28 16:49:59
Your comment above mentions Lilydale and the photos looks like the east part of Pickerel Lake where I first found the mystery seed pods last fall, and went back and found the pretty "hibiscus" or the Halberd-leaved Rose-Mallow 8/27/11. If you'd like additional photos, I shot some nice ones. A new wildflower for me.
on: 2012-07-16 18:40:16
July 15 2012 blooming in profusion seen as well on east end of Pickerell Lake. Also a new one for me. Only saw a couple of purple loosestrife around them so hopefully these invasives are being controlled.
on: 2017-12-02 07:39:20
I had gone on a hike with my dad to check out whitetail woods in the afternoon on 8/23/17 As we were walking I stopped to take a picture of a flower it was huge and looked lake a hibiscus but I wasn't sure so when I went home I went to this website and searched "hibiscus" and two results popped up. Flower of an hour and this my flower matched all of the characteristics of this flower the inside and the leaves so I had an identification. Apparently the halberd leaved rose mallow is not common so I felt I had to report it.
on: 2019-08-10 08:57:28
A friend took me to see this plant. He found it while kayaking in Wacouta bay just south of Red Wing. It was at least 6 ft tall. The plant was in a mud flat close to willows and must have been standing in a few feet of water earlier this spring due to flooding.
on: 2020-07-26 15:49:14
I reported finding this on the east end of Pickerel Lake, past the railroad bridge August 2011, and I returned today and found it in full bloom and happy growing along the shore line. Happy to find it again.
on: 2020-08-07 15:59:52
I saw about 2 dozen of these beauties near the east end of Pickerell Lake near the bike trail. New to me.
on: 2020-09-11 07:03:39
A stand at least 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep at the west side of Lake Winona, Winona MN, on the shore opposite the Lyon's shelter. Growing in shallow water at edge of water lilies, arrowhead and purple loosestrife. 9-10-20. At first I mistook it for the new invasive, flowering rush.
on: 2021-08-28 11:15:45
I was walking a prairie trail in august with several blooms from coneflowers and prairie onion on display. I was surprised to see this growing in the midst of prairie flowers. Ive grown "hardy hibiscus" for years but never imagined it to be a prairie plant!
on: 2021-08-28 20:02:40
Mike, it would indeed be surprising to see this plant in a prairie, since its habitat is wetlands, even in standing water. You may have seen something else. Post some images on the Minnesota Wildflowers Facebook page if you'd like confirmation.
on: 2021-09-06 15:58:00
k. Chayka, I was surprised too. But there it was. I've been growing "hardy hibiscus" for almost 40 years. I know the flower, and I know the leaves, and I know the seed pods that were left behind by flowers that were already spent. I have pictures but dont really want to get into facebook posting.
on: 2021-09-07 16:48:04
one last comment...if you look back in the thread, you'll see someone else sighted the same thing in the same park in august 2017. his bloom sighting is within a week of mine...both in late august. since hibiscus bloom late it seems like he and i saw the same thing in the same place in different years.
on: 2022-03-24 13:17:46
I just ordered a flat of 18 plants from Glacial Ridge Growers. I'm excited to grow this plant in a wetland restoration edge.
on: 2023-09-21 16:36:51
I grew 3 from bare-root planted last fall. They are beautiful and tall. I want to find out if I can move them now that I know how tall they are. I purchased from Prairie Moon.
on: 2023-09-21 18:13:48
Ellen, you should ask Prairie Moon. They should have answers to all your questions.
on: 2024-08-17 18:50:41
Numerous mallow plants in flower along the lake shore on August 17, 2024. Beautiful!
on: 2024-08-28 15:12:13
Found one plant blooming in the shallows of our pond. Have lived here for 35 years and never saw it before now. A very pretty surprise.